Glenn Hoddle: Gut-wrenching failure will leave Roy Hodgson devastated

Like the whole of the nation, I feel completely devastated today. Even though I thought that, at best, we only had a five per cent chance of winning the tournament, I was confident England would beat Uruguay 2-1.

Playing 28 days after knee surgery, Luis Suarez couldn’t possibly have been been 100 per cent fit, yet he was the decisive factor. That is true world class talent.

The Liverpool striker made the difference last night and last Saturday it was Andrea Pirlo — the other top teams have the players who can do that — so we have to find somebody to make the difference, too.

I feel for Roy Hodgson. I know what the players are going through — I suffered it in Mexico in 1986 — but more so the the gut wrenching feeling of defeat in a World Cup that the manager will be experiencing.

I think Roy will be more devastated than the players, even more frustrated, and having come to Brazil full of hope he looks like heading home full of regrets. It must be a horrible feeling as a manager to now be relying on Italy, not just in one game against Costa Rica today, but also against Uruguay next Tuesday.

He will be devastated because his England team were not outclassed nor outplayed by Uruguay, and certainly not by Italy.

But, let’s face it, England beat themselves. Roy, his players and the staff will be totally distraught when they analyse the winning goal that has no doubt put them out of the tournament — a schoolboy error.

You won’t see another goal like that in this entire World Cup. That’s how bad it was, a simple, long punt up field by the keeper and England were unable to deal with it.

With all the planning and preparation, all the new technology and sophisticated tactical back-up, something like that shouldn’t happen in this day and age. Actually, I agree with my fellow ITV pundit Lee Dixon, it shouldn’t happen in any day or age.

You can talk about Suarez and his world-class finishing but Wayne Rooney might easily have scored two or three times last night. He finally got his first goal in World Cup finals but he had another great opportunity — a lovely touch and shot that the goalkeeper saved. He hit it straight at Fernando Muslera, whereas if he had tucked it into the corner, the talk today might have been about Rooney not Suarez.

While it is easy to focus on Suarez and the goals England conceded, four in two games, it mustn’t mask the problems England had going forward. The lack of movement in the final third needs massive improvement, which is the most frustrating aspect of England’s overall play for me. The performance has to improve, the team need to be more creative and we need to create overlaps to get behind the defence.

Far too often, the wide players were coming inside, always inside, never getting round the back and in behind. If you do that you’ve got half a chance but we didn’t do it anywhere nearly enough. Too often Rooney was standing in the pocket, a deep position behind Daniel Sturridge, but to break teams down, the attack needs to be more fluent and creative.

Uruguay v England - player ratings

Uruguay v England - player ratings

1/24
Joe Hart: 6

Alert in saving two Suarez corners, no chance for the goals and had little else to do.

GETTY

2/24
Glen Johnson: 6

Good outlet going forward and brilliant assist for the goal.

GETTY

3/24
Gary Cahill: 7

Made some important blocks and interceptions, and dealt superbly with the late Uruguayan attacks.

GETTY

4/24
Phil Jagielka: 5

Lost Suarez for the goal, and looked nervy throughout. Remains unconvincing at this level.

GETTY

5/24
Leighton Baines: 6

Got forward in the second half and put in a few dangerous crosses. More solid defensively than against Italy.

GETTY

6/24
Jordan Henderson: 7

Calm in possession, always positive and drove forward more in the second half. Taken off for Lambert late on.

GETTY

7/24
Steven Gerrard: 5

Passed well but lost the ball in lead up to the first goal and could only head the ball into Suarez’s path for the second.

GETTY

8/24
Raheem Sterling: 6

Well marshalled by the Uruguayan defence, the winger put in a few decent crosses but couldn’t influence the game as he did against Italy. Replaced by Barkley after 67 minutes.

GETTY

9/24
Wayne Rooney: 7

Kept going despite missing two good chances to break his World Cup duck, before eventually doing so in the second period. Went on a few good runs and looked England’s biggest threat.

GETTY

10/24
Danny Welbeck: 5

Struggled to get on the ball, and when he did he often gave it away. Taken off for Lallana with 20 minutes left - surprising he stayed on as long as he did.

GETTY

11/24
Daniel Sturridge: 6

Excellent work in the build-up to the goal and had a few decent efforts, many of which he created himself. Final ball often disappointing.

GETTY

12/24
Ross Barkley: 5

Came on after 67 minutes, and was industrious but couldn’t influence the game.

GETTY

13/24
Adam Lallana: 5

Given the last 20 minutes to make a difference but struggled to make any impression.

GETTY

14/24
Fernando Muslera: 6

Early spill from Baines’ pass, and lost the flight of the ball for Rooney’s header that hit the bar, but generally solid.

England's forward Daniel Sturridge (up) vies with Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (down) during a Group D football match between Uruguay and England at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO / D

15/24
Alvaro Pereira: 6

Dealt well with Sterling and put in some hefty challenges. Appetite for the fight summed up when he refused to go off with head injury.

England's midfielder Raheem Sterling (L) vies with Uruguay's midfielder Alvaro Pereira (R) during a Group D football match between Uruguay and England at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JUAN

16/24
Diego Godin: 6

Booked for cynical handball and lucky to stay on the pitch after body check on Sturridge. Otherwise, a typically commanding performance from the Atletico Madrid centre-back.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 19: Diego Godin of Uruguay is shown a yellow card by referee Carlos Velasco Carballo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Pho

17/24
Jose Maria Gimenez: 6

The 19-year old, winning only his seventh cap, put in an assured performance and allowed Sturridge little time on the ball.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 19: Jose Gimenez of Uruguay fights off Raheem Sterling during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Imag

18/24
Martin Caceres: 6

Got forward to put a few crosses in and marked Welbeck out of the game.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 19: Martin Caceres of Uruguay controls the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

19/24
Alvaro Gonzalez: 6

Lots of energy in midfield, and helped to nullify England’s attacking threat.

Uruguay's midfielder Alvaro Gonzalez runs with the ball during the Group D football match between Uruguay and England at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should rea

20/24
Egidio Arevalo Rios: 7

A snarling, physical presence - disrupted England’s rhythm in the midfield and protected his back four with some big tackles.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 19: Wayne Rooney of England is challenged by Egidio Arevalo Rios (L) and Alvaro Gonzalez of Uruguay during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014 in Sao Paul

21/24
Cristian Rodriguez: 6

Nearly scored when shot whistled over the bar, largely pinned back by Johnson’s forward bursts.

Uruguay's midfielder Cristian Rodriguez (front) vies with England's midfielder Raheem Sterling (L) during a Group D football match between Uruguay and England at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO

22/24
Nicolas Lodeiro: 5

Meant to be supporting the strikers but offered little creatively, and gave the ball away on a few occasions. Taken off after 67 minutes.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 19: Nicolas Lodeiro of Uruguay controls the ball against Jordan Henderson of England during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Pho

23/24
Edinson Cavani: 7

Wonderful cross for Suarez’s goal and nearly scored from first-half corner. Made intelligent runs but should have buried second-half chance.

Edinson Cavani of Uruguay controls the ball as Danny Welbeck of England gives chase during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Uruguay and England at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/G

24/24
Luis Suarez: 8

Outstanding finishing yet again. Took his goals beautifully and even when not fully fit he looked a constant threat.

Uruguay's forward Luis Suarez plays the ball during the Group D football match between Uruguay and England at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANS

I would have picked a different team, which might have made more impact, with Adam Lallana in midfield in a ‘V’ formation alongside Rooney. I would have had skipper Steven Gerrard behind them, sitting back and protecting

the back four, and would have started Raheem Sterling on the opposite flank. As I’ve said, England also fell short defensively. I must say, I did flag up on more than one occasion my concerns about the defence.

The big question was whether Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill could step up from being excellent Premier League defenders to playing on the biggest stage of all?

The winner came straight from Muslera’s clearance and off the head of Steven Gerrard. Suarez anticipated Gerrard’s touch but the England central defence did not, and we were undone.

England’s defence in previous World Cups has been the cornerstone of the team — we were renowned for having a solid base — but I doubt whether that will be said of the defence that came to Brazil.

Again, I am not using hindsight, but I question the wisdom of not doing everything possible to persuade John Terry to change his mind about international retirement.

While I was in favour of taking Luke Shaw to gain valuable tournament experience along with the other young players for the Euros, the left-back has not had a kick, so it would have made more sense to have also included Ashley Cole.

As I pointed out in an earlier column, you normally only use around 15 players, so I wonder whether a place could have been found for Cole. Glenn Hoddle is part of the ITV team for the World Cup and is a leading pundit with Sky.

Everything aches but I'd happily do it again

I swore I wouldn’t play again yet there I was, more than 20 years since I last kicked a ball, trying to turn back the clock along with a galaxy of World Cup winners and former world-class stars.

It was crazy to agree to play beach football on Ipanema Beach but once we got started it wasn’t long before more than 200 people had gathered to watch us. The crowd suddenly appeared on the side lines and on the steps leading down to the sand. Our ITV pundit team of Patrick Vieira, Fabio Cannavaro, Gus Poyet and Ian Wright teamed up with fellow ex-pros Christian Vieri, Sylvain Wiltord and Olivier Dacourt to play footvolley, a volleyball-style game using the head and feet.

However, I am now suffering for the experience. My knee, hips, just about every part of me is hurting. I’m in bits but it was great fun.

I know it’s ridiculous but if someone said let’s do it again, I am sure we would. We’re still like little kids loving the game.

Messi hits the right note

It was quite an experience being among the fans inside the Maracana for Argentina’s first game of the tournament.

The atmosphere was electric and we were right behind the goal where Lionel Messi produced his one moment of magic.

The Argentina supporters began singing his name, then about 20,000 Brazilian fans inside the stadium began singing the name of Neymar to the same tune. As if on cue, Messi then scored — and what a goal. It was a great one-two, a little dribble and a perfect finish.

It shows you what one world-class player can do and it reminded me of the Argentina team of ’86 that I faced. Then, just like now, Argentina were very ordinary apart form one magical player.